Improvement in ore washing and amalgamating machines



j To all whom it may concern.-

UNITED 'S'rnrnsl PATENT C)rricE.;l

.po'HN H. WILHELM, ornent-nn', COLOR-nino.,

IMPROVEMENl' IN ORE WASHING AND AMAiLGAMTiNG. MACHINES..

Specification forming par-t of Letters Patent No. 196,174, Adated October ld, l.8 77; npplication`lorl October 24, 1876.

ne it known that I, JOHN H. WILHELM, of Deliver, in the countyof Arapahoe and State of Colorado, have invented a new and useful lmprcved'01'e Washing. and Amalgamati'ng Machine, which I .will call the Adjustable Amalgamator 5" and AI do hereby declare that (the following isa lfull, clear, and `exact description of the constructionfalid operation of I- the same, reference being had'l to the accompacation, in which- E i Figure l is an end view of mymachine;

Fig. 1g, a longitudinal view of the screen; Fig.

2, an end view of the.wheelsupports; Fig.

nying drawings,.makingapart of this speciii-l 3,-'a sectional view of the shaft and distribut ing-cup; Fig. 4, a perspectiyeview of thel trough or chut-e intowhieh thedrtis throwing,

Fig. 5, a plan yiewf of the .machine ;"-Fig. 6, a' side view of the machine; Fig. 7, a transverse sectionof the external cylinder, showing the amalgamated plates;-Fig. 8, aplan -view of lthe exteriorcy'linder and plates Fig. 9, a perspective sectionof the cap Fig. 10, a longi-v tudinal' view of both cylinders and cap; Fig. 1 1, aperspective of thering; Fig. -12, aview of thej movable plates.

rThe object of 'my invention istofseparate" .and gather .the native gold, bothl coarse and fine, from the auriferousdbris of placer-mines where there is a scarcity of water, orwhere it cannot be had without great expense-in suicient quantity to collect the goldlby'the ordinary methods.

metallic gold lis thoroughlyv tumbled and dashed about, and constantly kept incontact with a sufflcient'supply of water, thus usinga est particles.

The machine isso constructed -that it'can4 readily be adjusted .to all'kinds of dirt by giv# l ing 'it' a less or greater inclination, and thus- Wash the auriferous dbris more or'less thor.- oughly, 'as from its character maybe required.

.The position `of the ym achine.with reference' to' the supply of water is such as to allow the surplus or waste water"that drains from the tailings readilyto ilow back 'to the pump,

whereit may be re-used, it being an. object,` while saving the gold, also, as much aspo'ssible, to save the,- water. The economizing of -1abor,.also, 'is attained in the mechanism of the machine, it being provided vwith the means of disposing, to some extent by .its own action,of

the tailings, and in beingl so constructed as to be taken apart easily, thus rendering it portable.

The machine is'supported by a shaft, P", l

Figs. 3, 6,10, revolving inthe adjustable jonrnal-.boxes jj', resting on the postsPl. P4, Figs. 1,. 6. 1t is placed overthe water-tank T, Figs. 1,6. Figs` l, 6, 10, is awater-tight metallic cylinder, of any desirable length and diametergradually expanding from some point, asz', into the receiver o, and iprplonged from a .into the metallic screen R' and short cylinder A, Figs, 1%, 6, 10. The wheelfsupports, Fig.1 2', are placedat suitable .distances apart in the cylinder n, screen. R', and cylinder A. The

metallic bars r', Figs. 2, d0, extend throughout n R' A, Figs. 1%, 6, 10. Being placed atshort distances from each other, they form narrowtroughs that aid inf distributing the water `more equally through/n. The bars 1r may b e made of any suitable sizeandl style.v s', Figs.

1, 2, 10, represents flat iron bars of greater width, forming narrow shelves that aid, wheny n and RC are revolving, to elevate the dirt and water, .allowing them to fall, gradually onto the mass below, thus subjecting t toa thorough scouring and washing.

The rinrb' Fi 2 made '0f cast-iron or any' I suitable material, forms a projection that catchesmore or less coarse'gold 'as the debris R', Fig'. isz, is designed' to .showt-11e nur,

gold, .Water, and the finest portion. of the d- 4bristo pass through its perforations into the cylinder X.n The coarser portion ofthe gravel and sand, with some water, travels on. and fallsas tailings at 3, on' the screen' m', Fig. 6.

- The screen lt terminates. in a y cylinder, A,

The object of incasing the bars r', Figs. 192, 2, 10,' at the termination of R,forming A, (similar to n, and 'of which it maybe regarded as a detached section, separated from by R,)' is'rto retain an almndancel vof water. soias to v receptacle gold.. 4 Y, Y H, Figsf9, 10, is a hub or box into which 'wsferis conveyed by P, Figs. 3. 6, '10. o." is

' opname o',

' imggetswillpermit,

by'means of which-G is'fssneamii;

water-tight door, opening into 9', Fig.

l from G without unshipping the-machine.,

beneath.

s, the projections 1,1 141l of the piuma mrefthnrqughiywash the dirt Before apaise G, Figs. 6, 9,10,'is a movable inetallicicap:

o f greater .diameter R', Figs. 1Q, 6,10, `which is-tlie same diameter as A, Figs.l1 ,10.

Gis of lessdiameter than ..\X,' and contains a 'or nugget-box, 9', Fig. 10, Vfor coarse'v l. the open end ofthe hub. H.

t", Figs. 9 10, is-the inner side of the `re bjFig. 10. fv", Figs. 9, 10,;'is the outer side of 9', Fig. 10.: 'l The'diaineter of. G is greateitfi-oin n ton, Figs. 9, 10, than from nt'o n' Figs. 9,1 10. 'lne Vopening-or mouth of the receptacle 9", Fig. 10,'is made as narrow-Jasthe-size ofthe bowlders from falling into the box .94..

z" Fig.`9, is the band that i's slipped over A,i'gs..i, c, io. .i y y t', Fig. 9, shows the holev for' the set-screw,

e,Figs..9, 10, is a narrowvcurvedband, at-

tacked around the outer end faceof thecapA G, at a right angle,or nearl'yso, to'. the wider endo o', `and projects towardA .the hub.. 11 Figs.v 9, 10, forming a circular dish, designed. to prevent the water from escaping'too rapidly with i theV dbris out of .the 'machine'. between the spokesg' of the' cap G, Figs. 9, 10.

D, Figs. 6, 9, 10, is a screw', foriii-iig a 0 and. is man@ of sumcient size to annie the tana easily for the purpose ofremoving the 'gold X, Figs. casing 1t', amalgama-ted It is supported by thecrane C, to which is at-- tached the pulley p. /A f The plates d d, Fig. 7,"are plane surfaces; having the endsS next to the posterior'enrl of :c turned i1p,s0 as'to preventthe contentent"4 :v i'roin passing out too rapidly. f

o', Fig-, represents portions of plates .dV cutaway, exposing the surface' of cylinder X' 1 -6, `10, is an exterior cylinder,in Figs. 1 5, 6, 10, and contains the 4 4,.-Fig. 8, represent spaces on tlie inside surface of w notcoveredby (11d. `The 'plates d (1,-When placed within-w over` llap each otlicr,a s shown at 6,'Figs. 7 8. "lhey are` se arranged as tofoi'ni an interior cy1in der, and are firmly-secured by means of "the Tshspgd ledges of thelongitudinal strips shown ii.t .5,f1-`i".l 7, and the screw g `Figs .v7&"

resting', against-thc 1'i1ns2' 2" of' w, Fig. 8.

in order to prevent large i.

plates shown at d d, Figs. 7, 8.-

1 water .aid in conveying a portion of; the contents of s' upward'with the revolution of the cylinder, allowing a part 'of them .to fall throughthe Vportion of the water that escaped through the 4perforations' of the screen, andalso bringing the ine gold into lmore extensive' contact with thoroughlyamalgamatedonA both'sides. On

tothe plane. faces of the' plates d, forming restrainingledges on buckets, theobject of which is to aid in conveying a portion of the 'water and dbris' upwardwith the revolution of fw, .causing theinto roll or fallen the plates tact with Athe amalgainated' surface, 'but also resupplyinglR! with a portion of the 'water that escaped" throughtheperforations of the them of any curve, angle, or style, so' as to form water-shelves, -that' accomplish the results above attributed to 'their action.

'(111",4Fig. 7, showsthe supports ofthe plates Lc'A c"v are sweeps, designed 'tn .brush loil' the Itailings from m', 4that fall at2 and 3, Fig. 6.

suitable means. to n: andy thefsweep 8' tothe `liubof the cmne Fig. ,s' s. may be Ascrewed into the arms and hub of the crane C, i so as'to; be removed at pleasure.4

satisfactorily will accomplish, ls' s'may be at- Utached to any effective separate device, and made to'revolve more rapidly in the same man?.

vnel: around 1j I It o ften be convenient toreverse the -1 tailings in the opposite direction.

P, Figs.- 3, 6, .10, isl a hollow skate-sup- 'porting' 1 "RIG, gs. 6, 10, and the exterior cylinder X.

` P1! is securely fastened to the "wheel-supports at 3.',:Fig'. 2, said supports- `being located at inb, Figs. 3, 6 10, represents a distributingcupie'stiii'gon 'againstthe.collard,Fig,3. L Fig. B ,is'a spout attached to b, and connec by the hose of the-pump g. 6. w, Figs. 3,10, reprefrom the distributing-cup b, in

which "I revolves into P", through which it is d', Eigf7,.represents a 'bucket i'o'imid by. he'overlapping plates d d, and is designed to:

'open space formedby o onscreen It and the plates .d d below, lgs.'` 7, 8, thus-resupl'ilyingl 4the contents ofR, Figs. 15,' 6, 5, 10, with aj 'the amalgamated surface, the platesd d being' sonic of the plates d d, Fig. 8 are vertical pro-- 'jections 'e e, set at right ang es, or nearly so,

I do not confine myself cg-any special shapel of 'the vertical projectio1ise'e,.Fig. 8, but use 'he tailings from :i:y fall at on Fig-,

'The sweeps s' are fastened scjiirelyfby any llVhen'it f's desirable, to throw the tailings farther thanthe velocity necessaryto work motionof for the purpose ot'. sweeping tlieV the interior cylinder B, ,formed byj-'n ltei-vals within the inner'cylinder,and revolve iii'thejournal-boxes jf', Figs.v 1, y, Fig. 10, shows t e'perfo tions mP",

IbiFiBg. 3, to l', one ofthe spouts -i .una perfomsns m P1', amugh which the..

conveyed and discharged into the hub H, and the hollow spokes g',.Figs. 9,10, into 9', Fig. 1 0.' P, Figs. 1, 5,6, is 'a plmip, placed in the tank T. 1, Figs. 1, 6, is one of the spouts of-P. t, Figs.` 1, 4 6, is a movable trough or chute,

attached `to the post. P' or anyiirm support, 4and extending into the receivervv, Figs. 6, l0. vThe auriferous by means of its the stream of water from I, -Figs'. 1, 6, condirt is thrown into zg-which, inclination andthe force of veys the dirt into the-recentere, Figs. 6, 10.

When thedirt is dry, if the inclination of t is, sufcientit will slide into the receiver 'v better without water, -unless av strong current be used. The spout l may then be turned di-v rectly'into c.

P',Fig. 6, is a pulley attached to the' shaft of P" bythe key-7L". a, Fig. 6, shows the place on w where s' is fastened. 'Y

(UQ-Figs. 6, 12, is a screw used to `holdthe movable plates w' i0", Fig. 12, between which j' is fastened, and. by means of ywhich the in- .clination of the machine is adjusted.

6, is achute hung :on the hinge` Itis 4made of any suitable material, and

lig, Figs. 5, L.

may be covered with an amalgamatedplate,

so as to'catcli anyii-ne gold-dust that may.`

happenl to escape with the tailings fromm Ordinarily it willnot be necessary to amalganiate q.-

7, Fig. 6, represents a screenv placed under,

laud'nt a short distance from, the screen m', Flgs. 5,

6. The screen 7 is some additional, aid in' separating the water` from the finest portionof the vtailings. Either m' or 7 will generally alone be sufficient.

When necessary, both 7 and m' may be made of copperfwire cloth, andamalgamated. Generally this will be useless.

9, Figs. 5, 6, is a partition separating- T into compartments,to aid in clarifying the water that lasbeen used; v

R, Figs. 1 5, 6, is a reservoir ofany desired capacity. The operation of the machine I has, to some extent, been explained in the foregoing description. Any convenient-effective powerfis'.

appliedfto the machine bymeans-of the pulleys p' p", Fig. 6. rThe water regulated by the faucet o, Figs.1, 5, runs from R, Figs. 1, 5, throught e pipe -.into T'asffast as. itis pumped up Figs. 1, 5, 6. ordinary suction. or; orcepump may'beused. When' requires a strong current throu-gl the dbljiS the nugget-box 9', needed.- I In localitieswhere water` is abundantthe tanlfr 'l and reservoir- R, may' be 'dispensed with,and where. a stream of water a half in'ch Fig. 10, the latter-will be or more in diameter, falling` from a height ofv fifteen or more feet, can be obtained, the pump P may be dispensed with.

f, Figf, is a b ase rod connecting standards P1v and Pt The'interior cylinder B, Fig. 6, formed of 'n R' G, Figs. 156, 9, 10, maybe fastened to Xby means of a set-screwby plac- "7": Fig'S- 155': 677.10'-

' byietbers Patnt'iS-J '1; The iner revolving. cylinder, consistii'ig-v 4of the expanded-jireceivingportion o, the wa ter-tightpprtion-a, thev screen R, and the end.

ing the ring L, Figs. 10, 11, under the banda, Figs.- 6, 10, andthus mand B. will be made to revolve together in either direction, or the ring L may be slipped up to z', Figs. 6,10,

and the cylinders madelto revolve independently of .each other. .y

It is evident, from well-known methods of' transmitting the powerito p'p", which it is'not deemed necessary to describe here, that B and w lmay be 1n-'ade to revolve in the same directionwith the same or with different velocities,

orin opposite directions with the) same or with `different velocities, or either may be made to perform. part of a revolution and then beimmediately reversed. The character o f the auriferous debris must determine the nature and velocity ofthe revolutions of -B and x. Generl ally a slow motion produces the best results.

The pump-handle I1 being attached to 5', Fig. 6, thev solid bent part of the shaft P", the same powerthat turns the machine also pumps the water.. The journal-box j, Fig. 1, turns freely o`n a pivot fastened permanently in 1 a slit in the. top of the postP', Fig. 1, so as to fectually to wash`up,'by. the aid ofthe motion.

of G, the gravel and sand out'of nugget-box 9', Figs. 9, 110, allowing the gold to remain by reason'of its greater specific gravity. r

- To securethe. best resultshe amalgamated plates in x' should be kept in prime condition, Aand to economize time, whilecleaningv them,

may be'replaced'with a second set.'

As the metallicj cylinder w may be of any convenient diameter,- one or more interior amalgamated cylinders may be arranged within it,

and, if desired, the inner surface of l:r'n'iay itself be amalgamated. Amalgamated copper- -wire cloth may also be placed around the screen mated surface will"v R'. So much extra amalg seldom, if ever, be required.

I am aware that cylinders'and screens have' l been used forscouring and Washing purposes,

' and that amalgamatedplates have beenused ito catclf gold: `l' therefore disclaim these.

Vlhat I' Aclaim as new, and desire to secure piece A.

12. The .capi e, substantially as.V described, andfor the purpose set forth.- 1

- 3. The inner revolving 'cylinder'B, consist ing of the expanded receiving portion t, the water-tight portion n, the screen R', the vend piece A', .and the cap Gr, in combination with 6, 9,10, the line the hollow perforated shaft 13",- the' rlistribut inglcupb, provided with the spout l andthe hose-pipe lp, substantially as describe ,land for,

the purpose set forth.

4.- The amalgamated plates d d, having. buckets c e, substantially as described, and for* .the purpose Set forth.

5. In combination with the inner cylinder nX, the series of amalgamated plates d d, ar-

ranged relatively thereto, as' described, WherefV bythe contents of X yare permitted to pass around the ends of the plates and throughtheir open spacesfre'ely over botl sides of thel` iinterior amalgamated cylinder.

,6. The exteriprmcylinder agili combination with the interior cylinder of amalgama/ted plates d-d, `substantially as described, and for the 'purpose set forth.

7. The combination ofthe interior cylinder B with the exterior cylinders: and the interior cylinder of amalgamated plates d d,\`sub stan tially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

' 8. The sweeps s's",'in combination with the outer revolving cylinder c, substantially. as described, and for the purpose. s et'ibrth.

nih-.Thermor revolving cylinder B, consistingof tlievexpanded receiving portion; o, the water-ti''ght portion, the screen B', the nd Joins n.V WILHELM.

Witnesses: JACOB. A. J. B'IGLER,

IpeceA, andthe cap G, in combination with 

